History: (Cloak & Dagger#10 (fb) ) - During the Acts of Vengeance,
the US government was given reason to question the loyalty of Freedom Force,
their agents at the time. As a result, a fanatical faction of the government
(which was behind the failed super-powers registration act) formed a scientific
offshoot called M Branch. The group appointed Roland Blaisdell to head M Branch. Blaisdell
handpicked eight recruits from the ranks of patriotic volunteers, eager
to serve their country.

The scientists at M Branch subjected the enlistees to
cosmic rays, gamma rays, and combinations of both in an effort to produce
mutagenic changes like those which empowered the Fantastic Four and the
Hulk. The group was christened X-Force, issued uniforms, and assigned the
names of the X-Men (Colossus, Dazzler, Havok, Longshot, Psylocke, Rogue,
Storm, and Wolverine) who had recently appeared to have died in battle against
the Adversary.

However, during the training period, all began to exhibit
signs of radiation poisoning to various degrees. Blaisdell brought them
to Mid Town Hospital in Manhattan to receive care under Dr. Ilsa Moon. Despite
her efforts, the subjects continued to deteriorate, and Longshot, Psylocke,
and Wolverine died. Blaisdell then made it clear that he was no longer
interested in trying to prolong the lives of the others, but instead wanted
Dr. Moon to collect data on their progression and eventual death, so that
he might make other attempts in the future.

(Cloak & Dagger III#9 - BTS, 10) - The remaining members of X-Force refused to
allow themselves to die just so the government could learn from their mistakes.
Under the direction of the Wall, the five remaining members attempted to
break out of the hospital. Cloak and Dagger were in the hospital visiting
Father Delgado and heard the struggle. They initially believed the members
of X-Force to be criminals, and so they sided with the soldiers of M Branch.
Blaisdell arrived and decided to terminate the entire group, and ordered
his soldiers to open fire. Dazzler and Rogue were shot, but Cloak and Dagger
realized their mistake and transported the last three, Colossus, Havok,
and Storm to safety on the roof of the hospital. Dr. Moon joined the fleeing
members of X-Force.

After Dr. Moon explained the group's origins, Cloak and
Dagger were quite sympathetic. Blaisdell and his soldiers located them,
along with Rogue, who had survived the glancing head wound, and remained
loyal to M Branch. Cloak and Dagger helped fight off Rogue and the soldiers
and teleported Dr. Moon and the other three to the Holy Ghost Church, where
the soldiers could not find them. Dagger used her powers to clear the drugs
and radiation from their systems, apparently curing them. They then took
new names, the Wall, Bedlam, and Tempest, and decided to go out on their
own. Dr. Moon joined them, planning to provide them with medical and financial
assistance as they attempted to elude M Branch

COMMENTS: Created by Terry Austin and Mike Vosberg.

The original picture of the first seven members showed
Wolverine, who was mentioned as the second to die. Psylocke was not shown
initially, but was mentioned in their origin, and was mentioned as the first
to die. Another time, Longshot was listed as the first to die. Longshot
and Psylocke were listed as the two dead on their hospital file, while Wolverine
was still listed as alive at that time. I'm saying they're all dead. Although...there
is a character, Wolverina, from the Carnage: It's a Wonderful Life one-shot with an
unexplained origin. (in X-Force's handbook profile in OHotMU A-Z Update 2010#2 it was speculated that Wolverine was Wolverine's...somehow femizined)

The next issue blurb stated, "The Hunted and Betrayed
X-Force will return!" I guess they really like to build that suspense.

X-Force did make one more appearance: Marvel Age#102 (July,
1991), in Fred Hembeck's page: Hembeck had Bedlam and Tempest on to discuss
their new series, X-Force. they were both excited, but surprised that no
one from Marvel had called them, with the first issue due out any day. Cannonball
showed up and revealed that the series would be about the former New Mutants.
A rumble nearly ensued, until Hembeck called in Phyllis Twombly, aka Origin, to settle the dispute. She revealed that Marvel had requested
that she turn the name over to the new group, and she had complied.

I'm thinking there are probably 4 or 5 people reading
comics today who remember these guys.

Connection between the original X-Force and the Exemplars?
Probably not, but it would be a good story.

Comic science is comic science, but in case you care,
if you actually decalcified bones without removing anything else (as per
Rogue's powers), the bones would become like rubber, but wouldn't turn into
a gelatinous pool. If you don't believe me, put a steak bone in vinegar
for a few days.

Dazzler, Kimberly Schau, was shot and reportedly killed during the group's
escape from Mid Town Hospital. She could project electricity, primarily
as bursts of brilliant light.

Longshot(Pvt. Roger Welton) his abilities are unknown. He was one of the first to
succumb to radiation poisoning.

Psylocke(Pvt. Matt Coris). He was
one of the first to succumb to radiation poisoning.

Rogue, Pvt. Victor Barlow, remained loyal to Blaisdell and the M Branch,
despite their lack of concern for his survival, and even shooting him. He
had only a superficial gunshot wound, and recovered almost instantly. He
felt that the other members had turned traitor to their country, and so
he agreed to oppose them and assist in hunting them down. He could leech
the calcium from one's bones, causing severe pain, and theoretically cause
the skeleton to have the consistency of rubber.

Tempest, Pvt. William Read, aka Storm, was one of the three to stay with
the group. He could intensify already present atmospheric conditions. He
could even transform water running out of a drainpipe to a full torrential
downpour from the skies. He was the most volatile of the group.

The Wall, Sgt. Lemuel Sullivan, aka Colossus, is the leader of the group
and one of the three members still with the group. He's a good 7 to 8 feet
tall, and possesses superhuman strength (Class 10?) and durability, as well
as advanced training in strategy, and in armed and unarmed combat.

Wolverine(Pvt. Ryan Laporto) He was one of the first to succumb to radiation
poisoning. He possessed claws, and possibly other feral powers and/or enhanced
healing (if so, it didn't work so well).

Roland Blaisdell is a former presidential advisor, and was chosen to run M Branch.
He cared only about the final result, and nothing about those involved in
the process. He was more than willing to sacrifice the entire group if things
weren't proceeding as planned.

Dr. Ilsa Moon is an expert on
the effects of radiation. She was chosen to try to reverse or retard the
deterioration of the group, but was unsuccessful. She was infuriated at
Blaisdell's absence of concern for the group, and decided to stay with the
group when they fled the hospital.